CA1205254A

CA1205254A - Fabric softening composition

Info

Publication number: CA1205254A
Application number: CA000443560A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ho T. Tai
Original assignee: Unilever PLC
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1982-12-23
Filing date: 1983-12-16
Publication date: 1986-06-03
Also published as: NO834713L; AU548913B2; GR81354B; GB8334016D0; EP0112719A3; JPS59130369A; GB2134143B; ZA839427B; PT77879A; PT77879B; US4497716A; EP0112719A2; AU2252683A; IN158635B; BR8307077A; GB2134143A

Abstract

A B S T R A C T

A concentrated fabric softening composition comprises at least 10% cationic fabric softener, up to 4%
ethoxylated nonionic material selected from ethoxylated amides, alcohols, acids and esters with not more than 7EO
groups per molecule, 0.02 to 0.5% of an electrolyte and less than 2.5%, if any, of an alkanol with 1-4 carbon atoms.

Description

- 1 - C. 1355 FABRIC SOFTENING COMPOSITION

The present invention relates to a fabric softening composition and a method for its use. In particular, it relates to an aqueous based concentrated fabric so~ening composition.

It i known to treat fabrics, particularly after washing, with fabric softening agents in order to improve the feel of the fabrics and, in the case of clothes, to improve the comfort in wear. Txaditionally, fabric softening agents are applied from an aqueous liquor which is made up by adding a relatively small volume of a fabric softening composition to a large volume of water, for example during: the rinse cycle in an automatic washing machine. The fabric softening composition is usually an aqueous liquid product containing less than about 8% of a cationic fabric softening agent which is quaternary ammonium or imidazolinium sal~. Such compositions are normally prepared by dispersing in water a cationic raw material~ which contains short chain alkanols, such as isopxopanol~ as a solvent. For a number of reasons~

,.~

.

~2~S25~

- 2 - C.1355 including for example -the cost of packaging, it would be preferred if the product were to contain more than 10% of the active ingredient but due to difficulties in manu-facture, storage and ease of use of the products, it has only been possible to do this in the past with some difficul-ty.

Thus it has been proposed to form low viscosity concentrated products by the use of ionisable salts (United States Patent No 3 681 241), fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters and paraffinic hydrocarbons (Canadian Patent No. 1,143,512). However, these proposals are not totally satisfactory. In the case of the ionisable salts there is a tendency for the product to gellify on contact with water, while in the case of the other pro-posals mentioned above the viscosity increases unacceptablywith several days' storage.

It is particularly important that products will be stable at low temperatures, for example at -4C. Storage conditions may be such that, in practice, the product may be kept for some days at temperatures as low as -4C between manufacture and use. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide products which are stable to pro-longed storage at low temperatures.

It has also been proposed to control the viscosity of concentrated products by the use of small quantities of alkoxylated amines. While it may have been thought that the viscosity control results from some interaction between the alkyl-nitrogen groups of the amine and the cationic softening agent, we have now surprisingly found that such viscosity control can not only be a~hieved with alkoxylated amines, but also with a range of other S~5~
~ 3 - C.1355 alkoxylated nonionic materials, provided the level of short chain alkanol in the product is controlled.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a concentrated liquid fabric softening composition comprising an aqueous base, at least 10% by weight of a water-insoluble cationic abric softening agent, up to 4~ of a nonionic viscosity control agent and from 0.02% to 0.5~ by weight of an electrolyte, characterised in that the nonionic viscosity control agent is an alkylene oxide adduct of a fatty compound selected from fatty amides, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty esters, said fatty compound containing at least 10 carbon atoms and each molecule of the alkylene oxide adduct containing an average of not more than 7 alkylene oxide groups per molecule, and in that the composition contains not more than 2.5~ by weight of a monohydric alkanol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

The cationic fabric softening agent is preferably present at a level o from 10~ to .25%, mvst preferably between 10% and 18% by weight, and may be selected from quaternary ammonium salts, imidazo'Linium salts~ mixtures thereof and mixtures thereof with water-insoluble fatty amines, in particular water~insoluble tertiary fatty amines.

Preferred cationic softener materials are di-C12-C24 alkyl or alkenyl 'onium salts, especially mono- and poly~
ammonium salts, and imidazolinium salts. Optionally, the two long chain alkyl or alkenyl groups may be substituted or interrupted by functional groups such as OH, -O-, CONH-, -COO-, ethyleneoxy, propyleneoxy etc.

9 ~ ~'~
- ~ ~ C.1355 Well known species of substantially water-insoluble mono-ammonium compounds are the ~uaternary ammonium and amine salt compounds having the formula:

R4 N / ~5 +

R~ \R X

wherein each R4 repre~ents alkyl or alkenyl groups of from about 12 to about 24 carbon atoms optionally interrupted by amide, propyleneoxy groups etc. Each R5 represents hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or hydroxyalkyl groups containing from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; and X is the salt counteranion, preferably selected from halide, methyl sulphate and ethyl sulphate radicals. Representative ~0 examples of these quaternary softeners include ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, ditallow dime~hyl ammonium methosulphate; dihexadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;
diIhydrogenated tallow alkyl~ dimethyl ammonium chloride;
dioctadPcyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; dieicosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; didocosyl dimethyl ammonium chloride;
di(hydrogenated tallow) dimethyl ammonium methyl sulphate;
dihexadecyl diethyl ammonium chloride; di(coconut alkyl3 dimethyl ammonium chloride; di~coconut alkyl~ dimethyl ammonium methosulphate; di(tallowyl amido) ethyl dimethyl ammonium chloride and di(tallowyl amido) ethyl methyl ammonium methosulphate. Of these ditallow dimethyl ammonium chloride and di(hydrogenated tallow alkyl) dimethyl ammonium chloride are prefexred.

~S~:~i4 - 5 - C.1355 Ano~her preferred class of water-insoluble cationic materials are the alkyl imidazolinium salts believed to have the formula:

~ C2H4 - N - C L Rg X

~8 wherein R7 i~ hydrogen or an alkyl containing from 1 to 4, preferably 1 or 2 carbon atoms, R~ is an alkyl containing from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, Rg is an alkyl containing from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, Rlo is hydrogen or an alkyl containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and X is the salt counteranion, preferably a halide, methosulphate or ethosulphate. Preferred imidazolinium salts include

3-methyl-1-(tallowylamido) ethyl -2-tallowyl-4,4-dihydro-imidazolinium methosulphate and 3 methyl-1-(palmitoyl-amido) ethyl -2-octadecyl-4/5-dihydroimidazolinium chloride. Other useful imidazolinium materials are 2-heptadecyl~3-methyl-1-(2-stearylamido)-ethyl-

4,5-dihydroimidazolinium chloride and 2-lauryl-3-hydroxy-ethyl-l~(oleylamido) ethyl- 4,5-dihydro imidazolinium chloride.

Representative commercially available materials of the above cla~ses are the quaternary ammonium compounds Arquad 2~T (ex AKZO); Noranium M2S~ (ex CECA1; Aliqua~-~HT
(Trade Mark of General Mills Inc) and the imidazolinium compounds Varisoft 475 lTrade Mark of Sherex Company, Coiumbus Ohio) and Steinquat (Trade Mark of REWO).

~r r ~
6 C.1355 The amines which may be present with the quaternary ammonium salts or the imidazolinium salts include tertiary amines of the formula:

R

N~R2 Rl 1 10 22 alkyl, and R2 is C1 4 such as Noram M2C
(dicoconut methyl amine); Noram M2SH (di-hardened tallow methyl amine) (ex CECA). When a tertiary amine is present, .it will usually be present at a level less than that of the quaternary ammonium or imidazolinium salt.

The nonionic viscosity control agent is preferably present at a level of about 0.2% to about 3% by weight and is preferably selected from the following compounds:

: ~a) alkoxylated fatty acid amides of the genexal formula:
~ 20 ~: R2 R1 _ C - N ~
. ~ n 2n )x wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 10 to 22 : carbon atoms r R is hydrogen, an alkyl group having ~ from 1 to 3 carbon atoms ox the group (CnH2nO~XH, x :: is, in total, ~rom 1 to 5, preferably 2 to 4 and n is 2 or 3; such as ETHOMID 0/15 or HT15 ie oleylamide 5EO or hardened tallow amide 5EO (ex AKZO);

~b) alkoxylated fatty alcohols of the general formula:

R - O - (Cn~2n)y~

~ ~S%~5~
- 7 - C.1355 wherein R3 is an alkyl or alkylaryl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, y is from 1 to 5, most preferably from 2 to 3, and n is 2 or 3 (such as Synperonic A3 [ICI~, C13 15 alcohol 3EO, Empilan KB3-lauric alcohol 3EO - ex Marchon~;
(c) alkoxylated fatty acids of the general formula:
R - ~ - O~-(CnH2nO)XH

lG
wherein R4 is an alkyl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, x is from 1 to 5, preferably 2 to 4 and n is 2 or 3; such as ESONAL 0334 (Diamond Shamrock) -~allow fatty acid 2.4 EO;
(d) alkoxylated mono-, di- or tri~esters of polyhydric alcohols containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; such as coconut or tallow oil ~triglyceride) 3EO ex Stearine Dubois; and (e) mixtures of one or more fxom any of the above classes la) to (d~.

The viscosity of the product when measured at 110 sec 1 ~hear rate should be less than 150 mPa sec, pr~ferably between 20 and 100 mPa sec and can be used as such or may be pre~diluted with water before adding to the rinse liquor.

Preferably, the compositions of the invention contain only minor amounts, most preferably substantially no non~ethoxylated nonionic materials, other than the amine, when present.

Essentially, the compositions further include an electrolyke, at a level of rom about 0O02~ to 0.5~l ~ Z ~ 8 - C.1355 preferably from about 0.05~ to about 0.4~, measured as the anhydrous salt. Examples of suitable materials include sodium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium methosulphate, sodium benzoate, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride or aluminium chlorhydrate, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid.

The compositions will usually include a solvent for the cationic fabric softener. Commercially available abric softeners often contain considerable quantities of solvents, in particular iso-propanol. We have found that it is essential to ensure that the composition contains no more than about 2.5% by weight of iso-propanol or any other monohydric alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms~ In particular it is beneficial if the weight ratio of the cationic fabxic softener to such a solvent is at least about 6:1. Where the commercially available fabric softener contains too much of such solvents, they can be removed simply by distillation.
Additionally the composition can contain substances for maintaining stability of the product in cold storage.
Examples of such substances include polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol and polyethylene glycol. A suitable level for such materials is from about 0.5% to about 5%, preferably about 1.0 to 2.0% by weight.

The compositions of the invention may further include other additional ingredients including colourants, perfumes, preservatives, an~i-foams, optical brighteners, opacifiers, pH buffers, further viscosity modifiers, non~cationic fabric conditioning agents, anti- shrinkage agents, anti-wrinkle agents, fabric crisping agents, spotting agents, soil-release agents, germicides, anti-oxidants and anti~corrosion agents.

5~5~
- 9 - C.1355 The compositions of the present invention preferably contain substantially no anionic material, in particular no anionic surface active materials. If such anionic materials are present the weight ratio of the cationic material to the anionic material should preferably be more than 10:1, most preferably more than about 100:l.

The compositions of ~he present invention may be prepared by heating, to a temperature above the Krafft point of the cationic material and stirring, a mixture of demineralised water and electrolyte. The cationic fabric softener and monohydric alcohol, if any, is then added with further stirring. After the mixture has become fluid the nonionic viscosity control agent and the polyhydric alcohol, if any, is added. The mixture is then cooled quickly to below the said Krafft point with further stirxing. Finally, volatile ingredients such as preservatives and perfumes may be added. Non volatile further ingredients such as colourants may be added at any stage~ The process may be carriecl out batchwise or continuously.

An alternative proce~s consist:s in heating demineralised water to a temperature above the Krafft point (transition temperature) of the cationic/nonionic mix, typically about 55C and adding phosphoric acid and dye if desireda After mixing in a static mixer, the cationic material is added at a temperature above the Krafft point, say at 60C. The mixture should then be thoroughly mixed, without cooling, to such an extent that the cationic material is transformed from a lamellar phase to spherical particles. At this stage ~he nonionic, electrolyte and perfume, if desired, are add d. The composition is then mixed again with a static mixer and cool~d in a heat exchanger, lPaving khe heat exchanger at a temperature close to the Krafft point, say about 28C.

~ ~ ~ ~'~ - 1~ - C.1355 Where the ethoxylated nonionic material is substantially water-insoluble, such as tallow ethanol-amide, the above process can be modified by forming a premix of the cationic and nonionic materials, and adding the premix to water at an elevated temperature with mixing. The electrolyte is then added to the mixture while sti]l hot. After cooling, volatile components such as perfume may be added.

The invention will now be illustrated by the following Examples. It is to be noted that all parts and percentages quoted herein are by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Comparative Examples, directed to compositions outside the scope of the invention, are indicated by *O

A liquid fabric softening composition was made as follows. Demineralised water was added under stirring to a vessel together with calcium chloride and a blue dye in the form of a 1~ solution. The mixture was heated to a temperature between 45C and 50C. Then, a commercial cationic fabric softener containing dihardened tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride, isopropanol and water was added at a temperature of about 65C with fuxther stirring. AFter about 5 minutes when the mixture had become fluid coconut diethanolamide was added. The mixture was then cooled to a temperature of 28-30~C with con~inuous stirringO Finally formalin as a preservative and a silicone antifoam material were added. In this Example, the amounts of the component materials used were such that the final product had the following composition:

s~
~ C.1355 Cationic 12.5 %
Calcium chloride 0.3 %
Coconut ethanolamide 2.0 %
Isopropanol 1.66~
Dye, minor components and water balance The product was evaluated by measuring its viscosity at 110 sec 1 after 1 day and after 2 weeks. The results were 40 mPa sec and 58 mPa sec respectively. The condition of the product at -4~C was examined and was found to be liquid.

Example 1 was repeated except that alternative supplies of cationic material were used, which contained higher levels of isopropanol. Where the final product contained 2.4g% isopropanol ~Example 23, the viscosity after 1 day and 2 weeks was 70 mPa sec and 105 mPa sec respectively. Where the final product contained 3.32~
isopropanol (Example 3*) the visco!3ities were 110 mPa sec and more than 150 mPa sec respectively. In both cases the product was very thick at -4C, These examples demonstrate the benefit of maintaining the short chain monohydric alkanol level in the product at not more than 2.~%.

Example 1 was repeated except that different lev~ls of calcium chloride were used. Where the final product contained no calcium chloride (Example 4*) the product was a paste at room temperature and very thick at 4C.
Where the final product contained 0.6% calcium chloride (Example 5*) the viscosity ater 1 day was 24 mPa sec and after 2 weeks it was 48 mPa sec, but phase separation had ~5%5~ - 12 - C.1355 occurred. At ~4C the product was very thick. These Examples demonstrate the benefit of maintaining the electrolyte level between 0.02% and 0.5%.

Example 1 was repeated except that the coconut diethanolamide was replaced by alternative nonionics according to the invention.
Where the composition contained 2.0% of a C13 15 alcohol 3EO (Example 6~, the viscosity after 1 day was 6~
mPa sec and after 2 weeks it was 75 mPa sec. At -4C the product was liquid.
Where the composition contained 1.0~ of oleylamide 5EO ~Example 7), the viscosities were 40 mPa sec and 70 mPa seG respectively. The product was liquid at -4C.

Where the composition contained 1.0~ of oleic acid 2.5EO (Example 8), the viscosities were 60 mPa sec and 84 mPa sec respectively and the product wa5 liquid at -4C.

Where the composition contained 1.0% of tallow fatty acid 2.5EO (Example 9), the YiScosities were 65 mPa sec and 76 mPa sec respectively and the product was liquid at These Examples demonstrate that the coconut diethanolamide of Example 1 can be s~tisfactorily replaced with alkoxylated fatty alcohols, fatty amides and Eatty acids.

~ 13 - C.1355 EXAMPLES 10 To 16 Example 1 was repeated except that the 2.0% coconut diethanolamide was replaced by mixtur~s of nonionics according to the invention.

Where the composition contained 1.0% coconut diethanolamide ar.d 1.0% tallowylamide 5EO (Example 10), the viscosities after 1 day and 2 weeks were 38 mPa sec and 70 mPa sec respectively. The product was liquid at -4~

Where the composition contained 1.3% coconut die~hanolamide and 1.0% oleyl amide 5~0 (Example 11), the viscosities were 42 mPa sec and 58 mPa sec respectively and the product was liquid at -4C.

Where the composition contained 1.0% coconut diethanoamide and 0.5% tallow fatty acid 2.5EO (Example 14), the viscosities were 35 mPa sec and 52 mPa sec respectively and the product was liquid at -4C.

Where the composition contain,ed 1.0% coconut diethanolamide and 1.0% C12 alcohol 3EO (Example 15), the viscosities were 27 mPa sec and 34 mPa sec respectively and the product was liquid at 4C.

Where the composition contained 2.0% coconut diethanolamide and 1.0% C13 15 alcohol 3EG (Example 16), the vi~cosities were 44 mPa sec and 62 mPa sec respectively. The product was liquid at -4C.

Example 1 was repeated except that 2.0% o a polyhydric alcohol was included to maintain the stability ~S~4 - 14 - C.1355 of the product on cold storage. The polyhydric alcohol was added together with the coconut diethanolamide.

Where the polyhydric alcohol was ethylene glycol ~Example 17), the viscosities after 1 day and 2 weeks were 34 mPa sec and 72 mPa sec respectively, and the product was liquid at -4Co Where the polyhydric alcohol was glycerol (Example 18), the viscosities were 32 mPa sec and 58 mPa sec respectively, and the product was liquid at -4C, _XAMPLES 19 TO 21 Example 6 was repeated except that the C13 15 alcohol 3EO was replaced by ethoxylated alcohols having a higher degree of ethoxylation.

When the ethoxylated alcohol was C13 15 alcohol 7EO
(Example 19), the viscosities of the product after 1 day and 2 weeks were 50 mPa sec and 80 mPa sec respectively, and the product was liquid at -4Co When the ethoxylated alcohol was C13 15 alcohol 11 EO
(Example 23*), the viscosity of the product after 1 day and 2 weeks was 110 and more than 150 mPa sec resp~ctively and the product was thick at -4DC.

These examples demonstrate the benefit of the alkoxylated nonionic material containing not more than 7 alkylene oxide groups per molecule.

~xample 6 was repeated except that the level of C13 15 alcohol 3EO was increased.

~ 3S ~ 15 - C.1355 When the level of ethoxylated alcohol was 2.5%
~Example 22), the viscosity of ~he product after a day was 50 mPa sec.

When the level of ethoxylated alcohol was 5.0%
(Example 23*), the viscosity of the product after 1 day was more than 150 mPa sec.

These Examples demonstrat~ the benefit of maintaining the level of nonionic viscosity control agent at not more than 4%.

Example 1 was repeated except that the 2.0% coconut diethanolamide was replaced by an alkoxylated fatty ester or mixtures thereo~ with other nonionic vi~cosity control agents.

Where the coconut diethanclami.de was replaced with 2.5% of a glyceryl ester of an ethoxylated oleic acid (3EO) (Example 24), the viscosity after 1 day was 68 mPa sec.

Where the coconut diethanolamide was replaced with 0.5% of the ethoxylated ester used in Example 24 and 1.5%
lauric monoe~hanolamide ~Example 25), the viscosity after 1 day was 68 mPa 5ec .

Where the coconut diethanolamide was replaced with 0.5~ of the ethoxylated ester and 1.0% C13 15 alcohol 3EO
(Example 26), the ~iscosity after 1 day was 48 mPa sec~

~)S;~5~
- 16 - C.1355 Example 1 was repeated except that the coconut diethanolamide was replaced in one case with an alkoxylated nonionic viscosity control agent according to the invention and in another case ky an alkoxylated amine as taught by EP 56695.

When the nonionic viscosity control agent was C13 15 alcohol 2EO, used at a level of 2.5~ (Example 27) the viscosity after 1 day was 50 mPa sec.

When the coconut diethanolamide of Example 1 was replaced by 2.5% tallowyl amine 2EO (Example 28*), the viscosity after 1 day was more than 150 mPa sec.

These Examples demonstrate the superiority of the nonionic materials of the present invention over the alkoxylated amines taught by the prior art.
2~
Similar results to the above Examples 1 to 28 can be obtained if the calcium chloride is replaced totally or partially by sodium chloride or phosphoric acid and also where a minor proportion of the cationic material i5 replaced with, for example, di~coconut alkyl methyl amine.

EX~MPLE 29 The foliowing product was prepared by forming a premix of ~he cationic material and the tallow ethanol-amide, adding the premix to water at a temperature ~lightly above the melting point of the premix with mixing and thereafter adding the calcium chloride. After cooling, the perfume was added.
The product had the following composition:

~2~S~S~
- 17 - C.1355 In~redients (%~

Arquad 2~T (cationic fabric softener closely similar to 5 that used in Example 1) 12.0 Tallow mono ethanolamide 4.0 Calcium chloride 0.05 Perfume 0.75 Water balance The viscosity of this product was measured initially and after storage for various times at room temperature and also after storage at 37C for 4 weeks. The results were as follows:
_scosity (mPa sec) Initial viscosity 115 1 week at room temperature llO
20 4 weeks at room temperature 93 4 weeks at 37C 84 EX~MPLES 30 TO 34 Using the method described in Example 29, products according ~o the following formulat:ions were prepared:

~L2~S~
~ C.1355 EXAMPLE NO: 30 31 3233 34 Ingredients (%) Arquad 2HT 1~.0 14.0 14.016.0 16.0 5 Coconut diethanolarnide 3.5 ~ - 4.0 Tallow monoethanolamide - 3.5 - - ~
Isostearic diethanolamide - - 3.5 - 4.0 Calcium chloride 0.05 0.05 0.050.05 0.05 Water and perfume -~ ---balance~
All these products were stable liquids at -4C.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A concentrated liquid fabric softening composition comprising an aqueous base, at least 10% by weight of a water-insoluble cationic fabric softening agent, up to 4%
of a nonionic viscosity control agent and from 0.02% to 0.5% by weight of an electrolyte, characterised in that the nonionic viscosity control agent is an alkylene oxide adduct of a fatty compound selected from fatty amides, fatty alcohols, fatty acids and fatty esters, said fatty compound containing at least 10 carbon atoms and each molecule of the alkylene oxide adduct containing an average of not more than 7 alkylene oxide groups per molecule, and in that the composition contains not more than 2.5% by weight of a monohydric alkanol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

2. A composition according to Claim 1, characterised in that the water-insoluble cationic fabric softening agent is selected from quaternary ammonium salts, imidazolinium salts, mixtures thereof and mixtures thereof with minor amounts of water-insoluble fatty amines.

3. A composition according to Claim 1, characterised in that the weight ratio of the cationic fabric softening agent to the alkanol, if present, is at least about 601.

4. A composition according to Claim 1, characterised in that the nonionic viscosity control agent is selected from compounds having the following general formula:
wherein R1 is an alkyl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, R2 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or the group (CnH2nO)XH, x is, in total, from 1 to 5, and n is 2 or 3;

(b) wherein R3 is an alkyl or alkylaryl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, y is from 1 to 5, and n is 2 or 3;

(c) wherein R4 is an alkyl group having from 10 to 22 carbon atoms, x is from 1 to 5 and n is 2 or 3;

(d) alkoxylated mono-, di- or tri-esters of polyhydric alcohols containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and (e) mixtures of one or more from any of the above classes (a) to (d).

5. A composition according to Claim 1, characterised in that it contains from 0.2% to 3% by weight of the viscosity control agent.

6. A composition according to Claim 1, characterised by comprising from 10% to 25% by weight of the insoluble cationic fabric softening agent;

from 0.5% to 3% by weight of the nonionic viscosity control agent; and from 0.05% to 0.5% by weight of an electrolyte and not more than 2.5% isopropyl alcohol.